Thursday, October 22, 2009

Here's the second flavor that my Breast Cancer Awareness boxes contained: dark chocolate ganache with raspberry preserves. Where the sweetness of the marzipan was the focus of the other chocolates, these raspberry ones were all about the smoothness of the ganache, with just an ever-so-light hint of raspberry preserves spilling out of the chocolate shell when you take a bite. mmm....

Raspberry Dark Chocolate Ganache Chocolates

People who tried both of these chocolates told me that they were so torn over which ones they liked better! The two types of chocolate candies together were a great complement for each other, so I'd definitely recommend making both as a pair.

Also, don't let the chocolate work faze you from making these chocolates! They are super easy. I think the hardest part of candy making is tempering the chocolate, but that requires almost no skill if you use the method described in the recipes here--all it needs is lots and lots of patience to wait for chocolate to melt! :-) The best part of candy-making, too, is that everyone is always super-impressed that you've made chocolates. I had this hilarious exchange with an old professor of mine where, after trying a chocolate, he said:

"You bake. I know people who bake. And you bake. But-- I don't know anyone who makes chocolates! I thought that chocolates were something that no one makes at home-- like, like, mayonnaise!"

LOL. It's even funnier if you imagine it with a Finnish accent, as he has. Also, incidentally enough, I've never been successful at making my own mayonnaise, though granted I've only tried (and given up) once. Great mayonnaise-making tips accepted!, since now that I've conquered chocolates, I should try my hand again at homemade mayo.

(this recipe should make more ganache than necessary for these chocolates, but ganache is always a great thing to have around and it keeps very well in the fridge. Use the excess ganache for truffles, if you want, or save for more chocolates later!)

2. In a saucepan, heat cream and butter until just before boiling. Immediately pour hot cream over the chocolate in a bowl. Allow this to sit for about 5 minutes.

3. Stir the chocolate and cream until a homogeneous mixture forms. Stir in the chocolate liquor.

4. Place overnight in the fridge until firm.

for chocolates:

1 lb. dark chocolate, split into two half pounds

dark chocolate ganache, recipe above

raspberry preserves (I'm quite partial to Bonne Maman jam, but any preserves should work. Extra kudos if you make your own!--I have an irrational fear of canning.)

You will also need plastic chocolate molds. I bought mine at Sur la Table, but they're also available (probably for cheaper, too!) at arts & crafts stores like Micheal's, or online.

1. Chop a 1/2 pound of the dark chocolate and place in a double boiler. Melt this chocolate. Turn off stove.

2. Add the other 1/2 pound WHOLE, without chopping!, to the melted chocolate in the double boiler. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted. This is the easiest way to temper chocolate that I've found. No need to mess with marble pastry boards or thermometers! But, if you have your own method, feel free to temper the chocolate as you wish.
3. Once the chocolate is tempered, make sure to keep it only hot enough to keep it melted. Turn on the stove to simmer the water in the double boiler if heat is needed.
4. Pour a teaspoon of melted chocolate into the molds one at a time. Once the chocolate is poured into one mold, use a paintbrush to spread the chocolate evenly to coat the inside of each mold. Do not pour chocolate into all of the molds first and then spread later--your chocolate will cool! Do this one single mold at a time.

5. Once the molds have been coated, place them in the freezer for about five minutes. Be careful not to leave them in for too long--the goal is only to let the chocolate set.

6. Meanwhile, heat the raspberry preserves in the microwave until easily spreadable consistency. Fill a pastry bag with the preserves, and set aside.

7. Remove the molds from the freezer. Using the pastry bag, squeeze a small amount of raspberry preserves into the bottom of each chocolate mold.

8. Roll small pieces of the dark chocolate ganache. Press the ganache into the chocolate molds on top of the raspberry preserves, leaving a tiny bit of space at the top of each mold. Take care not to overfill the molds.

7. Pour melted chocolate into the molds to cover the ganache. Jiggle each tray a few times, and tap them gently on the counter to allow the melted chocolate to settle and to release any air pockets.
8. Return the molds to the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour. Remove from the freezer and turn out onto a cutting board. If needed, use a round cookie cutter to trim the excess chocolate around the candies.

You should probably store the chocolates in the fridge, but since the chocolate is tempered, they will survive a bit of time outside the fridge as well, as long as it's not too hot outside!

@Vinod: I am definitely not a doctor nor am I advocating chocolates as a treatment for breast cancer! These desserts are only meant to raise awareness. Please follow your doctors' orders and advice for medical treatment. My thoughts and prayers to your wife and a speedy recovery!

@Jade: It looks like they don't have the exact ones available online, but I found them at Sur la Table, and online they have the other ones that I have: http://www.surlatable.com/product/kitchenbakeware/molds+%26+plaques/chocolate+pieces+mold.do?sortby=ourPicks#

@Jade: It looks like they don't have the exact ones available online, but I found them at Sur la Table, and online they have the other ones that I have: http://www.surlatable.com/product/kitchenbakeware/molds+%26+plaques/chocolate+pieces+mold.do?sortby=ourPicks#